Hair straightening and pressing comb



Feb. 11, 1941. v. THQMAS 2,231,554

HAIR STRAIGHTENING AND PRESSING COMB Filed sepi. 7, 1959 Patented Feb.11, 1941 smi-ss rArs'r HAIR STRAIGHTENING AND PRESSNG MB 6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for straightening the hair of aperson, especially the type of hair that is kinky or densely curled. Inorder to remove the curls and straighten out the hair, the invention Iherein provide operates and functions by virtue of the fact that it hashair combing means .and hair ironing means simultaneously ironing andpressing the hair.

One object of the invention is the 4provision of a scissors-likeoperating instrument, having two members swivellably connected, onebeing provided with combing means, the other serving the purpose ofpressing or ironing the hair when in juxtaposition or superimposedrelationship with the front member or comb member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universally equalizableacting swivel arrangement which will permit the pressing memberscomprising my invention to equalize themselves with uneven thicknessesof strands of hair or any irregularity of the bunch of hair placedtherebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide spring tensioning means incompact relationship with the said universally equalizable joint meansso :that the entire instrument wi-ll be smooth, and hence make for themaximum of eiiiciency, inasmuch as it will keep the strands of hair frombecoming entangled therewith, thus furnishing Ithe most ideal andefficient operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a light weightinstrumen-t, durable, practical, eicient in operation, and of simplestructure that can be manufactured economically in quantity production.

Other features, objects, and advantages will :become apparent from theaccompanying drawing and the ensuing description wherein like numeralsare utilized to designate like parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my instrument showin-g also in dottedposition the open rel-ationship of the combing or pressing membersdesignated by the numerals 8 and 9 respectively.

Figure 2 `is a longitudinally staggered crosssectional view on the line2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transversal cross-sectional view on the line 3--3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a transversal cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a view looking in an upward direction at .the view shown inFigure 3.

Figure 6 is an isometric View showing that portion of the pivotablemembers of the device which limittheir motion in open and closedrelationship.

Referring once again to Figure l, my device is generally designated bythe numeral l, and is comprised` of two pivoted pressing membersdesign-ated `by the numerals 8 and 9 respectively, the member 8 being-pr-ovided with the handle designated by the numeral HJ, whereas themember 9 is provided with the handle designated by the numeral Il.

The members 8 and 9 move in open relationship and assume the dottedposition indicated in the view in Figure 1, on the other hand in closedrelationship the full lines indicate their position.

The lower pressing member designated by the numeral 9 `along its edges,is provided with a series of comb-like teeth designated by the numeral Hwhich may be made of ordinary pins of metal or other suitablesubstantial material, which are `driven into holes drilled on each ofthe lateral sides of the member designated 9.

The top member is somewhat smaller in area as indicated by the numeral8, and its edges are slightly rounded for purposes which willhereinafter be described.

The handle members lil and il are formed to iit the palm of 4the hand,presenting a convenient grip for manipulation land operation.

The member designated by the numeral 8 is provided with a boss portiondesignated by the numeral i6 which has a projection underneath it insemi-circular or arcuate shape designated by the numeral I2 (Figure 6)and having the abut- Iarent ledges designated by the numerals 32 and Thetoothed member 9 is provided with a central boss portion designated bythe numeral IS, an arcuate section substantially as shown, anddesignated by kthe numeral I3, having abutment ledges 3l and 33. Whenthe ledge 3l abuts the ledge 32 the instrument is in a closed positionas indicated lby the full lines in Figure l. The ledges 34 and 33 are inabutment when the instrument is in open position indicated by the dottedlines in Figure 1.

In Figure 4, I show the cross-sectional view of the two pressingportions of Ithe ironing members, showing the surfaces 29 and 30respectively, a sufficient distan-ce apart, in order to admit thethickness `of a strand of hair to be placed therebetween. This is thepor-tion of the device which does the ironing, and in order to do this,the instrument has to be heated thus furnishing the |bene1it of heat acondition most ideal for ironing the hair and which facilitates the workconsiderably.

The lower jaw member is provided with a recessed portion designated bythe numeral I4 which is spherical in shape and the top portion or theftop member 8 is provided with a similar spherical portion and arecessed Aportion designated 2l.

The lower memberv comprising the comb is provided with an enlargedrecessed opening designated by the numeral 2|', whereas the upper memberis also provided with ya similarly conical enlarged opening, in order tolpermit the screw Y member designated by the numeral l5 to' be attachedto the ball member designated by the numeral 22, and permit universallyequalizable action and movement provided by this ball joint..

The portion of the -comb is also provided with a spherically cut surfacedesignated 'by' the numeral 20 in order to accommodate the at springdesignated by the numeral 25. The spring 25 is constructed along thelines indicated in Figure 5, namely it is provided with a number ofdrilled openings designated by the numeral 28, and a number of openingsdesignated by the numeral 21 which are so disposed as to providestraight sides 26 for the independent leaf portions 25 of the springdesignated by the numeral 25.

The spring may be adjusted for tension by threading upwardly the nut 24on the screw thread 23 of the screw member designated I5, which providesadjustment.

inasmuch as the two members 9 and 8 have to be worked quite frequentlyin pivotal relationship and some wear might be occasioned, and thespring tension lessened, the adjustment feature heretofore described isessentially required.

To conserve weight of the member 9, a boss IS is provided so as tofurnish suflcierrt space for housingthe spring tensioning meansheretofore described.

The device as described is utilized in the following fashion. If anoperator is desirous of straightening a patrons hair, the hair beingrather kinky and densely curly, the device 1 comprising my invention isfirst heated over a gas flame or in any suitable manner, beforeapplication. After the proper heat is obtained, a skilled operatorhaving the pro-per experience and accustomed todoing this work knows thedegree of heat necessary. Then the instrument may be applied in any ofthe following manners: It may be used in the closed relationship shownin Figure 1, whereby the teeth I1 may be used first to comb out thehair, and under the heated condition will help to provide a preliminarystraightening when the hair is not too curly, whence it may notbenecessary toy press the hair with vthe surfaces 29 and 30 as indicated.

The pressing operation is used when the hair does not respond to theforegoing preliminary treatment, in that event the comb may be usedright handed or left handed since the teeth are shown on both sides, andmay be twisted about its longitudinal axis as it is combed thru thehair, so that when the strand of hair is placed between -the surfaces 29and 30, the teeth I'l coming into contact first, will tend to comb, orarrange the hair or disentangle it, if it should be tangled, whereas thesurfaces 29 and 30 instantly following that operation will iron out thehair in rearranged formation, in regular and disentangled fashion.

The device in order to facilitate placing' the strands of hair therein,is preferably opened to the position indicated by the dotted lines inFigure 1, after which it may be closed and the combing and hair pressingoperation caused to take place simultaneously the combing operationoccuring immediately in advance of the pressing operation..

After the comb is Worked thru the hair in this manner by an experiencedoperator one or more times as the case might necessitate, the patronWill have lost his or her kinky hair, and thus will have acquired smoothhair which in the instant case may be more desirable.

Altho I have herein expounded the theories of the structure, and theprinciples underlying my invention, I realize that it is susceptible ofmany changes, modifications, alterations, and improvements, hence Ireserve the right to all such changes, modifications, and improvements,which come withiny the scope and spirit of my invention, and the purviewof the foregoing description, my invention being limited only by theappended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, universalequalizable and pivotally manipulative means, provided with a combmember having an ironing portion, a second member smaller in area thanthe said comb member also provided with an ironing portion and providedwith ironing edges, adapted to iron strands of hair placed in betweenthe said ironing portions when in juxtaposed relationship, the saidironing portions normally spaced apart.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, pivotallymanipulative means, the said manipulative means comprising a comb memberoperating in conjunction with a second member, each of said membersprovided with pressing means adapted to iron strands of hair when placedtherebetween, the pressing means of said comb member and of said secondmember normally spaced apart.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, pivotallymanipulative means, the said manipulative means comprising a comb memberoperating in conjunction with a second member, each of said membersprovided with pressing means adapted to iron strands of hair when placedtherebetween, the pressing means of said comb member and of said secondmember normally spaced apart, and universally equalizable 'pivot meanssecuring the said manipulative means at a position intermediate itsends.

4. A device of the character described, comprising, pivotallymanipulative means, the said manipulative means comprising a comb memberoperating in conjunction with a second member, each of said membersprovided with a pressingmeans adapted to iron strands of hair whenplaced therebetween, the pressing means of said comb member and of saidsecond member normally spaced apart, universally equalizable pivot meanssecuring the said manipulative means at a position intermediate itsends, and spring tensioning means secured to said pivot means.

5. A device of the character described, comprising, pivotallymanipulative means, the said manipulative means comprised of a combmember operating in conjunction with a second member, each of saidmembers provided with pressing means adapted to iron strands of hairwhen placed therebetween, the pressing means of said comb member and ofsaid second member normally spaced apart, universally equalizable pivotmeans securing the said manipulative means at a position intermediateits ends, and adjustable spring tensioning means secured to said pivotmeans, comprising a at spring member having a multiplicity ofindependent leaf portions.

6. In a device of the character described, in

combination with pivotally manipulative means, universally equalizablepivot means, comprising a spherical member cooperating with socketedportions provided in said manipulativev means in order to permit limiteduniversal articulation of 5 said manipulative means.

VEOLA THOMAS.

